Events & Meetings

Historic Walking Tour

May 2012 Black Track Tour waiting list

Tom Paterson, well-known Vancouver Island historian, columnist, and writer, is noted for his hosting of "Black Track" tours of Morden Colliery, other area coal mining sites and rail lines. With his extensive knowledge of coal mining history and his engaging and dynamic delivery, he has a special ability to recreate the spirit of early coal mining days. Tom led his final 2011 Black Track Tour on September 11, 2011 and we are now taking names of those who would like to join his May 2012 tour, date to be selected by Tom next April.

If you are interested in participating, please email cchristo@shaw.ca or phone 250-714-0377. Ticket prices remain $30.00 for one individual, $25.00 each for two or more in a party and now includes one year's free membership in Friends of Morden Mine for each ticket holder.

Tom donates all tour proceeds to Friends of Morden Mine to support efforts to bring about preservation of the unique, nearly 100 year old, rapidly deteriorating headframe and tipple still standing at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park.

Typically tours assemble at 10:00 a.m. at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park in front of the headframe. Each participant is asked to bring water or juice, a packed lunch/snacks sufficient to sustain them for the length of the tour, typically about four hours. Hats, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, and clothing to protect from possible brambles or wayward branches, suitable for forecast weather, are also recommended. Transportation will be pooled to drive participants to various mine sites, but participants are asked to provide their own to and from the park. Participants are reminded that to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all tour members, they should refrain from wandering off by themselves or engaging in conversations that impede the ability of others to hear the commentary.

Notes: "Black Track" refers to those South Wellington area railway lines informally used by miners and residents as a "public thoroughfare" or walking track. Coal dust so thickly coated the lines that they became known locally as the "Black Track."

Morden's 1913 headframe and tipple were innovative in their use of reinforced concrete and are the only such remaining above-ground structures on Vancouver Island, and the earliest in North America we believe. Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park has been named as an Historic Place by Parks Canada and will be on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

Click here to view descriptions of two previous tours.

Fans of Tom Paterson will be pleased to learn that he has recently started his own blog at: www.twpaterson.com.

Report on 8th Annual General Meeting of Friends of Morden Mine, October 13, 2011

In the absence of FOMM's president, David Gogo, on tour in Europe, John Hofman, Vice-President, welcomed members at 7:00 p.m.

BUSINESS MEETING
In his Vice-President's report, John Hofman summarized activities during the 2010/2011 fiscal year:

• Tom Paterson's three 2011 Black Track Tours: two in May, one in September
• changes in newsletter distribution from paper to email in May 2011
• development of policies and procedures to guide future Board decisions
• efforts to increase membership, now reaching close to 100
• fundraising efforts and plans for the coming fiscal year
• BC Parks centennial birthday party on August 20th, sponsored jointly by FOMM

After adoption of the agenda and approval of minutes of the 2010 AGM, the Treasurer presented her report. She advised that detailed copies of the financial statement would be e-mailed to any members requesting.

ELECTIONS OF DIRECTORS
Present directors confirmed once again were: David Gogo, president; John Hofman, vice-president; Louise Shuker, treasurer, Frank Garnish, recording secretary, Eric Ricker, and Ingrid Greenwell. Eric Ricker was designated director in charge of fundraising, Ingrid Greenwell director in charge of memberships.

Two directors resigned. Charlie Christopherson, longtime director, and for the past two years corresponding secretary; Rick Morgan, director, as well as a past recording secretary.

Three new directors at large were elected: Tom Paterson, Allan McDermid and Dave Bodaly.

DISCUSSION
Round table groups considered ideas for improvement of publicity, outreach to membership, and fundraising. These ideas were collected at the meeting's end for further review.

The meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.

For a summary of the 2010 AGM activate this link.

Directors' Meetings

Directors’ meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Country Grocer store, 82 Twelfth Street, Southgate Shopping Centre (also known as South Parkway Plaza) Nanaimo, B.C. Both members and non-members are welcome. If there are any changes to scheduled meetings, notice will be posted on our website.

To access from the south on #1, the Island Highway, drive a few hundred feet beyond the junction of #19, Nanaimo Parkway, and Cedar Road, turn left on Tenth Street, left again on Lawlor Road, left once again into Country Grocer's parking lot. From the north, again driving on #1, look for Tenth Street turnoff on your right, the road between the Food Country mall on the north and Buckerfields and associated plaza stores on the left.

The meeting room is on the second floor. The stairs leading to the second floor are immediately to the right of the Country Grocer coffee shop, if one enters from that entrance. The door is unmarked. Turn right after going up the stairs and the meeting room is a couple of feet away.

To enlarge, please click

Fundraising and Other Events

After Friends of Morden Mine became a society in 2003, they hosted several Miners' Picnics at the Morden site. In 2006, they held two very successful fundraising events: a Beer and Burger and Silent Auction Night at the historic Wheatsheaf Inn in Cedar, as well as a benefit concert by award-winning blues musician David Gogo.

David's great grandfather drowned, along with 18 other miners, when a South Wellington local coal mine suddenly flooded in 1915. He performed the song he wrote to commemorate that terrible tragedy, "She's Breakin' Through," at his 2006 benefit for Morden. It was nominated for a Juno award in 2007 and is on David Gogo's cd "Acoustic."

In 2008, Friends of Morden Mine began seeking monies to fund a site plan to outline goals and objectives for preservation of Morden’s historic mining structures as well as physical development of its surrounding areas, including portions of the western half of RDN’s Morden Colliery Regional Trail. B.C. Parks granted $4,000 towards preparation of this site plan, and FOMM matched this with $4,000 available from their previous fundraising initiatives.

In 2009, the Regional District of Nanaimo and City of Nanaimo each gave matching monies of $4,000 towards preparation of the site plan. FOMM will be in charge of its administration.

Tom Paterson's annual "Black Track" tours have been a source of fundraising monies for FOMM for several years. For the last two years Tom has generously donated his time, energy, and skills to semi-annual "Black Track" tours. Tom's tours not only provide much publicity for Morden, its remediation problems, and its historic and cultural significance, but also publicize the historic significance of other coal mining sites in the South Wellington area.

FOMM also gratefully acknowledges the monetary and "in kind" donations from individuals and businesses that it continues to receive. These are much appreciated and help to provide additional funds to promote the preservation of Morden Colliery's structures.

Friends of Morden Mine is a registered charity and tax receipts are issued for donations. For more information please e-mail info@mordenmine.com.

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BC Parks 100th birthday party, co-sponsored by Friends of Morden Mine, a great success!

Between 200 and 300 people joined the celebration of BC Parks 100th birthday at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park on August 20, 2011, a beautiful, warm sunny day.

BC Parks staff did an outstanding job of setting up facilities, coordinating traffic, directing those attending to suitable parking spaces, while their mascot, Jerry the Moose, chatted with the crowd.

Friends of Morden Mine provided free tours of the Morden site by Tom Paterson and Parker Williams, both well known for their knowledge of Morden and other coal mining sites. FOMM also offered free hot dogs and frankfurters, coffees, cold drinks, and, a little later, slices from four celebratory BC Parks 100th birthday cakes.

Tom Paterson was awarded a lifetime membership in Friends of Morden Mine for his continuing contributions to publicizing the dire need for funding to restore Morden Colliery’s existing remains before they collapse. His Black Tours of Morden and other area mining sites for over eight years have convinced a number of people to join Friends of Morden Mine, and to donate much needed funds towards Morden’s remediation.

Charlie Christopherson was also given a lifetime membership. He was one of the early FOMM directors who persisted through hard times when it seemed that Friends of Morden Mine Society might have to wind up or dissolve through lack of supportive directors and members.

He convinced his wife, Frances, to take over some necessary functions, such as the newsletter, website, sales for Tom Paterson’s tours. She also received a lifetime membership.

MLA’s Ron Cantelon, Doug Routley, and Leonard Krog were present, as were Mayor Rob Hutchins of Ladysmith, Nanaimo City Councillors Diana Johnstone, and Fred Pattje, the latter representing Mayor John Ruttan. Lori Hall, Assistant Deputy Minister for BC Parks, and Don Cadden, BC Parks Regional Manager for central Vancouver Island, were among those BC Parks staff attending.

Photos courtesy of Carolyn Geisler, Gerda Hofman, Louise Shuker.